Dispute escalates between Iran and America…Iran’s sharp reaction to Trump’s ‘locked and loaded’ comment

Iran has reacted strongly to US President Donald Trump’s “locked and loaded” comment. Trump had said that the US would intervene if the Iranian government used lethal force against peaceful protesters. On this statement, Iran issued a sharp warning, saying that if America interfered in Iran’s internal affairs, American military bases and forces present in the entire region could become targets.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, citing Trump’s remarks, said Iran would not tolerate any outside interference. Senior advisors to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei have also warned against American intervention. He said that if the US interfered in Iran’s internal affairs, it could result in chaos in the entire region.

Demonstrations in Iran: from economic issues to anti-government movement

Mass protests have been taking place in Iran’s capital Tehran and other major cities since Sunday, initially focused on economic issues. Shopkeepers went on strike against the devaluation of the currency rial, inflation and inflation, and the strike soon spread throughout the country. So far seven people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces.

Protests are no longer limited to just economic problems, but anti-government slogans are also being raised at many places. Demonstrations have spread to cities such as Qom, Isfahan, Mashhad, and Hamdan. President Massoud Pezeshkian promised to take the people’s problems seriously, although he acknowledged that the government had limited options to improve the situation.

Trump’s statement and human rights issue

America’s stand regarding this big protest taking place in Iran is clear. Trump’s statement is an indication that the US is keeping an eye on human rights violations taking place in Iran, especially when repression is being taken against protesters. On the other hand, Iran considers this as US interference in its internal affairs.

The Iranian government says that peaceful demonstrations are completely legitimate, but that those who incite unrest will be given a strong response. Iranian officials have made it clear that they will not accept any outside interference and will defend their sovereignty.

Regional tensions and future direction

This tension between the two countries will not be limited only to Iran and America. The recent increase in tensions in Iran-Israel relations and now this confrontation with the US could create turmoil in the Middle East. These ongoing mutual threats between America and Iran are a matter of concern not only for both the countries, but for the entire region.

This situation also shows that the increasing economic problems in Iran and the ever-increasing number of protesters have become a big challenge for the Iranian government. It will be interesting to see how these events play out in the future, as it may affect not only Iran’s internal politics but also global political equations.